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H. Steve White

Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Education and Training

B.S. 1977, Idaho State University

M.S. 1979, Idaho State University

Ph.D. 1984, University of Utah

Research Interests

Dr. White is the principal investigator and scientific director of the NIH-sponsored Anticonvulsant Drug Development Program that was established in 1975 to identify novel anticonvulsant drugs using established animal seizure and epilepsy models. Over the years, the efforts of this program have contributed to the successful development of nine new antiepileptic drugs for the treatment of refractory partial epilepsy. Dr. White’s research is focused on understanding the factors which contribute to the initiation, propagation, and amelioration of seizure activity. Dr. White’s laboratory utilizes a variety of in vivo and in vitro model systems to identify and characterize the anticonvulsant profile and potential mechanism of action of established and new antiepileptic drugs. In addition, ongoing investigations in Dr. White’s laboratory are focused on understanding the pathophysiology and genetics of sound-induced seizures in the audiogenic seizure-susceptible Frings mouse and the influence of genetics on seizure-susceptibility and antiepileptic drug pharmacology. In addition to their efforts at identifying new therapies for the symptomatic treatment of partial epilepsy, Dr. White’s laboratory is conducting research that may aid in the identification of disease modifying therapies that halt, slow, or prevent the development of epilepsy in susceptible individuals. Dr. White also participates in a recently funded Drugs of Abuse Program Project Grant as director of a project aimed at identifying the mechanisms that contribute to the proconvulsant properties of methamphetamine and cocaine.

Students working in Dr. White’s laboratory have multiple opportunities to contribute to a broad-based research program aimed at gaining a further understanding of the factors that contribute to the expression and prevention of seizure activity. The results obtained from these investigations are likely to lead to the design and development of more efficacious and less toxic therapies for the prevention and treatment of epilepsy.

Selected Publications

Frankel, W.N., Taylor, L., Beyer, B., Tempel, B.L., and White, H.S. Electroconvulsive thresholds of inbred mouse strains. Genomics, 74(3):306-312, 2001.

Skradski, S.L., Clark, A.M., Jiang, H., White, H.S., Fu, Y-H., and Ptacek, L.J. A novel gene causing a Mendelian audiogenic mouse epilepsy. Neuron, 31:537-544, 2001.

Isoherranen, N., Woodhead, J.H., White, H.S. and Bialer, M. Anticonvulsant profile of valrocemide (TV1901): A new antiepileptic drug. Epilepsia, 42(7):831-836, 2001.

Barton, M.E., Klein, B.D., Wolf, H.H., and White, H.S. Pharmacological characterization of the 6 Hz psychomotor seizure model of partial epilepsy. Epilepsy Res., 47:217-227, 2001.

Isoherranen, N., White, H.S., Finnell, R.H., Yagen, B., Woodhead, J.H., Bennett, G.D., Wilcox, K.S., Barton, M.E. and Bialer, M. Anticonvulsant profile and teratogenicity of N-methyl-tetramethylcyclopropyl carboxamide: A new antiepileptic drug. Epilepsia, 43(2):115-126, 2002.

Rho, J.M., Anderson, G.D., Donevan, S.D. and White, H.S. Acetoacetate, acetone, and dibenzylamine (a contaminant in 1-(+)-beta-hydroxybutyrate) exhibit direct anticonvulsant actions in vivo. Epilepsia, 43(4):358-361, 2002.

Walker, M.C., White, H.S. and Saner, J.W.A.S. Disease modification in partial epilepsy. Brain 2002 (Sept) 129:1937-1950.

White, H.S., Sarup A., Bolvig, T., Kristensen, A.S., Petersen, G., Nelson, N., Pickering, D.S., Larsson, O.M., Frolund, B., Krogsgaard-Larsen, P. and Schousboe, A. Corrrelation between Anticonvulsant Activity and Inhibitory Action on Glial gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Uptake of the Highly Selective Mouse gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Transporter 1 Inhibitor 3-Hydroxy-4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1,2-benzisoxazole and Its N-Alkylated Analogs. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2002 Aug.;302(2):646-644.

Pharmacology & Toxicology   College of Pharmacy   30 S. 2000 E., Rm 201, SLC  UT 84112  phone: 801-581-6287  fax: 801-585-5111 phtx@pharm.utah.edu